The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed today’s announcement that fully vaccinated refugee and humanitarian visa holders will be able to enter Australia from 1 December 2021. RCOA chief executive officer...
Refugee Council celebrates 40 years
As the Refugee Council of Australia celebrates its 40th anniversary, CEO Paul Power says the organisation “sadly” is as essential as ever before for refugees to “get a fair go”. Mr Power said this was because political...
Former refugee elected to lead RCOA
Former refugee elected to lead RCOA Refugee-led advocacy has been significantly boosted with the election of a former refugee from Bosnia-Herzegovina as head of Australia’s peak body on refugee policy. Jasmina...
Refugee program smallest in 45 years while migration program quota filled
The Australian Government filled its Migration Program quota in 2020-21 but issued fewer than half of the available refugee and humanitarian visas, the Department of Home Affairs’ latest annual report reveals. The 2020...
Refugees trapped in Australia’s offshore detention to get new life in Canada
Media release October 17, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Ten refugees currently held in Australia’s cruel offshore detention system will be able to restart their lives in Canada...
Refugee Council calls on Foreign Minister to speak up about arbitrary detention in Australia
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has called on Foreign Minister Marise Payne to speak up about her government’s appalling record on immigration detention after she expressed public concern about the impacts of...
How restoring 20,000 lost refugee visas could save lives at risk in Afghanistan
After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, hundreds of thousands of Australians supported calls for the Australian Government to respond generously, calling for a special intake of 20,000 places for...
Why additional places are needed for Australia’s refugee intake from Afghanistan
RCOA is calling on The Australian Government to provide an additional 20,000 humanitarian visas to refugees from Afghanistan in its new brief, included below. As outlined, there is an urgent need to go beyond the...
Your Voice Newsletter (September 2021)
In this issue of Your Voice, we will take you behind the scenes of some of the advocacy that your support has made possible, including gaining regular access to the Minister of Immigration. You can read about how your...
Afghanistan Helpsheet
The Refugee Council of Australia stands in solidarity with the Afghan community at this time of crisis and is advocating for the Australian Government to take urgent action and do more to provide safety and leadership...
Afghan athletes saved by Aussies working together
Media release August 24, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia Afghan athletes saved by Aussies working together The extraordinary collaboration of athletes, advocates and the Australian...
States step up for Afghanistan humanitarian arrivals
Media release: August 23, 2021 Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia STATES STEP UP FOR AFGHAN HUMANITARIAN ARRIVALS The arrival in Perth of the first groups of Afghan nationals since the...
Over 300 organisations, businesses, and community groups call on all Parliamentarians to respond to the crisis in Afghanistan
Over 300 organisations, businesses, and community groups have signed on to a joint letter to all Federal MPs and Senators calling on them to take urgent action on the devastating situation in Afghanistan. The joint...
Seven steps Australian Government should take on Afghanistan now
Media release: Statement by Paul Power CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia SEVEN STEPS AUSTRALIAN GOVT SHOULD TAKE ON AFGHANISTAN NOW The Australian Government needs to move right now to provide safety and...
Government review highlights urgent need to replace its refugee sponsorship program
The Australian Government’s review of its Community Support Program (CSP) has highlighted the urgent need for a new model of community sponsorship of refugees which is more affordable, less discriminatory and better...
Refugee Council welcomes NSW Government $6 million emergency package for people seeking asylum
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has welcomed a new NSW Government emergency support package as a much-needed response to growing destitution among people seeking asylum. RCOA CEO Paul Power said the NSW...
After eight years of offshore processing, where to from here?
Background about 19 July decision and its bipartisan support Eight years ago, on 19 July 2013, then Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, made an announcement that further hardened the newly-restarted offshore processing...
Being LGBTIQ+ and seeking asylum during COVID
Media release: July 2, 2021 BEING LGBTIQ+ AND SEEKING ASYLUM DURING COVID Understanding mental health considerations of LGBTIQ+ people who are seeking asylum or are refugees during COVID, is just one of the...
